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IOWA CITY Some 70 to 80 years ago in the days of Nile Kinnick, Tennessee Williams and Virgil Hancher the University of Iowas School of Art and Art History began hosting exhibitions and collecting contemporary works, including Max Beckmanns Karneval and the swirling abstraction that is Jackson Pollocks Mural.

The UI opened its first Museum of Art in 1969, expanded it in 1976 and for decades featured and grew its collections until torrential flooding devastated the campus and its exhibition space in 2008.

Staffers and volunteers managed to save most of the artwork although hundreds of pieces and objects needed treatment in the aftermath. But administrators determined the swamped building couldnt again house the campus famed collections, and they began angling for a safer space.

Unlike other flood damaged UI buildings, however, the old museum deemed viable for other purposes didnt qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. So while the fragmented UI collection jumped from traveling exhibits to temporary housing in the Iowa Memorial Union or the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, administrators initiated creative pursuits to finance a new museum.

The path forward wasnt immediately clear. And it has curved along the way like in 2015, after the UI entered a public-private partnership to construct a new museum on leased property near downtown.

UIs then-new President Bruce Harreld scrapped the plan and charged his team to come up with a less-expensive option. It did, and in early 2016 the university pitched construction on a UI-owned plot near the Main Library, an idea that quickly won Board of Regents approval.

Aiming to finance half the $50 million effort with private donations, the UI received a big boost in 2017 with a $10 million gift from Dick and Mary Jo Stanley earning the couple naming rights for the new Stanley Museum of Art.

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The 60,000-square-foot, three-story project celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking in summer 2019, starting construction that fall with plans to finish in 2022.

Should the museum materialize on time, the achievement will be a long time coming after years of changing costs, locations, construction plans and schedules.

When the Stanley gift was announced, the university had planned to begin construction in 2018 and finish by 2020. Before that, in 2016, the project had been planned to wrap up by 2019 in time to mark the UI Museum of Arts 50th anniversary.

But now that debate over the site, size, scope, schedule, cost and funding has subsided, even a historic pandemic hasnt slowed progress, said UI Art Museum Director Lauren Lessing.

The construction has gone smoothly, and there have been no significant delays due to COVID, she told The Gazette. The building is scheduled to be completed in December 2021, after which it will need to be conditioned, giving construction materials time to off-gas for several months and letting the HVAC system flush the interior before the collection is moved in.

Because of those special needs, the museum remains slated for public opening in fall 2022.

A webcam documenting live progress on the re-imagined art home overlooking the Iowa River although sitting outside the 500-year flood plain by 4 feet shows a buzzing hive of activity.

A recent UI building update reported much of the work is happening inside the now-enclosed building shell with workers as of December installing 6,500 linear feet of ductwork weighing 70,000 pounds. On tap is installation of drywall and plywood for second-floor galleries.

The project has passed the 60 percent completion mark, according to the UI update, noting the finished product will boast 16,500 square feet of exhibition space and 2,200 square feet of outdoor gallery space.

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The building will accommodate all the UI art collection allowing a sort of homecoming after so many nomadic years. Among the long-awaited returns to campus is Pollocks Mural which has attracted hundreds of thousands of eyes internationally over its years away from UI.

It will be on display in one of the second-floor galleries, an update on the Pollocks future in Iowa City says.

In the interim, though, collections will remain in their temporary locations with Mural currently at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. And given COVID-19 the UI has created several online programs aimed at sustaining connection with a wide range of audiences.

Many of these will continue in the new building, Lessing said, elaborating on one example of a successful online pivot.

The UIs art education program for seniors, Connected for Life, was among a small percentage of applicants to receive a federal CARES Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to recreate and expand the program online.

We are particularly proud that we are able to continue serving this important audience that has been so affected by COVID-19, Lessing said.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com

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Pandemic hasn't curtailed progress on University of Iowa Museum of Art - The Gazette

ORIA Direct (99% positive lifetime feedback) via Amazon is offering its 60-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Kit for $10.79 Prime shipped when you use the code HA7YLWKH at checkout. Todays deal knocks 40% off its normal going rate and is one of the best prices that weve tracked in a while, considering weve seen similar kits go on sale for around $12 lately. If youve ever tried to repair a laptop, desktop, or smartphone, then you know how small the screws can be. Thats where a precision screwdriver kit like this comes into play. It has 60 parts in all, including a plethora of bits in a multitude of sizes. I have a very similar set that I just recently used to rebuild my desktop, as well as get some new servers online in my homelab, and it worked flawlessly. Rated 4.6/5 stars and is a #1 best-seller at Amazon.

This 21-piece kitis much smaller than todays lead deal, but it also saves you a few bucks at the same time. Included here youll find a nice assortment of screwdrivers, tweezers, pry tools, and more, though the bits are fixed instead of interchangeable. At$9 Prime shipped, its an easy recommendation for those who want to save a bit more.

Need something a bit more robust? Well, weve spotted a deal on DEWALTs Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit at Amazon. This rotary kit makes it super simple to cut boxes out of drywall or install new outlets. Plus, at $169, youre saving $30 from its normal going rate.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Repair phones, tablets, computers, and more with this #1 best-selling precision kit at under $11 - 9to5Toys

The utility knife isquite possibly one of the most widely-used tools youll ever add to yourarsenal, so why not make sure you get the one thats right for you? Fromcutting boxes to scoring drywall to installing carpet, finding and using the bestutility knife or razor knife can save you time and effort.

No matter what the task, youll have a knife with the quickness and features you need. Alongwith a hammer, pencil, and tape measure, a utility knife is next in line for thecoveted dont go anywhere without it spot in my tool pouch. Butthere are a lot of choices and preferences when shopping for a razor knife. Folding? Rugged? Retractable? Read on for our top picks.

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Im not sure if its your first love, or something else. Our favorite folding utility knife remains the Milwaukee Fastback Flip. This best folding utility knife lacks extra blade storage (other versions have that) but it opens easily and has a super-quick blade change. Above that, the belt clip just works and it slides easily in and out of your pocket or tool pouch. This wasnt the first folding utility knife, but it may still be the best. Pick it up for around $15 online or at your favorite Milwaukee dealer.

The LENOX 20353SSRK1 Retractable Utility Knife features a simple design that we love. You get a quick blade change that doesnt force you to open up the handle. You can also open the utility knife to store or retrieve up to five blades within. At the front edge, a titanium-coated steel nose stays together and gives you a durable slot that braces the blade while you cut.

Sometimes a simple design just works. Why complicate things? This retractable utility knife even includes three LENOX Gold Titanium Edge utility bladesall for around $15.

Apart from the minor annoyance of not including a pocket clip, the Gerber Prybrid knife impressed us with its style and simplicity. It actually packs quite a lot of functionality into a tiny space. Moreit does that without sacrificing durability. You get a true utility blade for slicing and a notch for cord-cutting. The back end of the tool lets you pry, drive screws, strip wire, and open bottles. Its kinda like carrying around a toolbox that fits in your pocket and only costs $25. This also makes for one of the best DIY gifts.

These OLFA aluminum utility knives come in two styles. The OLFA MPX-AL uses an auto-locking slide while the made-in-Japan OLFA MXP-L locks and unlocks with a metal ratchet wheel.

These also use snap-off bladessomething OLFA invented. Each blade snaps into 8 segments, so its like having 4 trapezoidal blades without the hassle of flipping them around. At less than $20, these knives give you quality and always-sharp convenience like few others.

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We picked the Stanley 10-399 swivel-lock as our best fixed-blade utility knife for several reasons. First, and foremost, the swivel-lock functionality lets you quickly pivot the handle open at the center. This lets you access the spare blade storage compartment within and swap blades when they get dull. The tool-free operation beats a threaded screw-based handle system by a mile. Almost unbelievably, this knife costs less than $5 at many retailers. Buy one for your whole crew.

A good drywall knife emphasizes stability and ergonomics. With the Irwin 1774103, the fixed blade holds the knife steady without fear of it retracting on you during a cut. You also get quick and easy blade changes as well as onboard blade storage. We also like how you can choke up on the front of this knife for better control when dragging a cut toward you. Lastly, $13 is a great price for a no-nonsense tool-free drywall utility knife that should last many years.

The Milwaukee 48-22-1500 Fastback makes a great pocket utility knife. More compact than the original Fastback, it works even better for easy carry in your pants pocket or clipped to a loop in your favorite tool belt. It keeps the press-and-flip function and tool-free blade change. It even has a small lanyard hole for tethering. For under $9 you cant find a better EDC (every-day carry) pocket utility knife than this.

A carpet knife has to have the right angle to let you cut quickly and accurately. You want a no-nonsense knife with a fixed blade and tool-free blade change. The Crain 726 carpet knife delivers. Not fancy, its quick, and the pivoting body opens quickly to let you replace the blade as needed to keep your edge sharp. It also supports various blade extension positions but clamps down tightly so you dont get any slide.

Clearly, you can grab any standard utility knife if thats what you want. However, a nice hawkbill blade remains hard to beat. For that, we like the Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife. You can swap the hawkbill for a coping bladebut both are replaceable. That makes this a true utility knife and you never need to sharpen the blades. Just charge it to the jobsite.

When we tested the Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife, we skinned more than 50 cables with one blade. The 44218 runs less than $20 and blades run about $10 for a 3-pack. That should keep you skinning cables for quite some time.

Why carry two knives when one suffices? The Stanley Fatmax Xtreme 10-789 Twin Blade utility knife can carry both a standard utility blade and a hook blade. That covers most of what you may run into on the roof. They also made blade changes easy with a single release button on top. For less than $14, its like having two knives in one.

We dont like to skimp on utility blades. The best utility blades should last long enough to get the job done without requiring you to change them prematurely. We like the Irwin Bi-Metal utility blades best. They come in a 100-pack and serve as a great general-use blade for working on wood, plastic, or drywall.

Irwin makes these blades using welded spring steel and high-speed steel construction, which helps prevent shattering under stress. Weve used these blades, and they tend to stay sharper for longer than the cheaper bulk carbon steel blades. You can get the pack for $27around $0.37 per blade.

In our experience, the best utility knife brands include OLFA, Milwaukee Tool, Stanley, DeWalt, and Lenox. We could also expand on that with specialized brands like Klein and Crainor budget brands such as Husky, and WorkPro. Lots of manufacturers make utility knives. Sticking with the top brands gets you a tool thats likely been jobsite tested by hundreds or even thousands of Pros.

While more expensive power tools demand consideration of warranty, we dont typically expect a decade of use out of our utility knives. Even the best utility knives function as consumables in our work experience. You certainly want the best tool for the joband you dont want to overpay. In the end, however, the best tool helps you get the job done quickly and accurately.

Ask yourself some of the followingquestions when searching for the perfect utility or razor knife:

Depending on your application, you may prefer a folding utility knife. If you go through blades like theres no tomorrow, youll want something with ample blade storage. This sounds like an easy question, but realize that utility knives are made inspecific ways for specific tasks.

For those laying carpet, youll want a knifethat is always ready and can handle quick, painless blade changes (which youllbe doing at a rate of aboutoh, I dont knowonce per minute, lol.) If you just want something for general use (openingpackages, sharpening pencils, etc) then consider going with a standard knife. Models with a retractable blade can easily take a new blade when needed.

Alternatively, a folding razor knife might be theticket for those wanting something different. Or, consider a smaller-profile knife with segmented, breakaway blades. Those qualify in this category as well. In either case, its important to matchthe knife to your intended useor plan on picking up a couple of differenttools.

There are three essential types ofutility knives. If you want the best utility knife for your application, understand each one. Im sure you can come up with a few more that might deservetheir own category, but for sake of simplicity, well contain the descriptionsto these four:

These knives are the mostcommon utility variety and feature a sliding blade mechanism with variabledepth. Actuation is typically through a button that is depressed with thethumb to expose the knife and control the depth of the blade (some knivesare all or nothing).

Most retractable knives can accept multiple blade types,but this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Simple versions featurea straight handle and some kind of screw to separate the device and loadspare blades, while advanced models may be more ergonomic in shape and offerquick-release blade changes.

Some safety knives auto-retract or force you to squeeze a trigger to extend the blade. OSHA requires these tools on certain jobsites in order to meet various safety standards. Most users dislike using them as they violate every rule of ergonomics. However, when you have to use them, make sure you grab one that helps you work as efficiently as possible.

These knives are perfect forheavy duty use and precision cuts. Since the blade gets locked into asingle position, the knife experiences no blade slop orside-to-side wiggle which is common in standard retractable knives. Sincethe blade doesnt retract, its important to carefully store these knivesor even remove the blades when not in use.

These knives are most commonlyfound in the carpeting industry and they can typically accept manydifferent types of blades. Apart from the common full-sized knife, certainhobby knives are also fixed-blade in design and can support ultra-sharpblades of various sizes and shapes that are used for precision cuts.

A variation of the fixed-blade knife includes folding knives. These feature the stability of a fixed blade with the fold-away protection of a retractable blade. They also give you a much more compact footprint.

Snap-off blade knives feature segmentedblades that are broken off in sections to deliver a brand new edge oncethe old one is too dull to be useful. They let you continue cutting without the need for a blade change. These knives started out catering to hobbyists where heavy-duty use wasnt required. Now, OLFA makes segmented utility knives with heavy-duty snap-off blades that can hold up to jobsite use. Most blades come with anywherefrom 8 to 13 segments.

There are several bladetypes which will make each type of job much easier. Here are some of the more common styles you can buy:

Theseare the typical trapezoidal razor blades you see on full-size utility knives. Theirtrapezoidal shape gives you pointed edges for cutting materials ofvarying degrees of thickness and composition.

These are identical to standard utility blades except for blunted points.This avoids accidental stabbing while still allowing for maximum cuttingability on a variety of materials. Some jobsites might require these for safety reasons.

These blades are excellent onlinoleum or carpet and allow for rapid cutting of those and similarmaterials. These blades come in a variety of sizes, and can also includeblunt ends or single/dual-sided forms. A variant on this blade is theLinoleum blade which is typically single-sided and features a singlearched blade hook.

These blades are typicallyrectangular and double-sided. Pros use them with specialty fixed utility knives that canaccept them.

Snap-off blades include standardwedge-type blades for smaller hobby knives and heavier-duty segmented blades. Some manufacturers offer these in varying thicknesses and materials, so pay attention to the application and materials you need to cut.

These are almost always soldas a separate system but they are worth mentioning since they are usedextensively in construction to cut various materials like cement board. These blades come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They let you score material designed to be snapped rather than cut through with a blade.

Look for the followingfeatures in a utility or razor knife to enhance and expand upon the standardfeatures youd expect to find in a knife. Sure, you can get a straight-up bladewith no frills, but some of these nifty features make using a utility knifesomething much more useful.

A new trend is to treat the standardutility knife like a Kershaw folding pocket knife. As far as we can tell, this waspioneered by a company called Superknife and then quickly knocked off bymany other manufacturers. Instead of the sharpened steel blade, you have aremovable razor blade that is locked into a folding arm.

It typicallylocks away when not in use and makes for a great addition to throw into atool bagor your pocket for that matter. There are also utility kniveswith handles that bend but do not completely fold. This is mainly an issueof ergonomics, and these knives otherwise resemble standard, non-foldingknives.

While some people preferold school utility knives that require a flat head screwdriverto separate the body into halves to change the blade, our personalfavorite are the models that use a simple button to swap blades.

With thesimple push of a button, you can flip the razor blade around to the freshside and continue use. Other knives feature a spring-loaded mechanism thatcan pivot or split the knife open and allow fast blade changes.

Most utility knives offerinternal blade storage, but increasingly, knives are coming up with moreconvenient ways to access those blades. While older knives had to bedisassembled, new knives feature quick-release compartments and delivermuch easier access to five or more spare blades.

Some knives include a smallslit in the body that accesses a small area of the blade just behind thehead of the knife. This is perfect for slicing strings and twine withouthaving to adjust the knife. Its safe and easy to use.

Ever check out a review site and you cant tell if they actually tested the tools or if theyre just recommending the Amazon top sellers?

Thats not us. We only recommend what wed actually use, even if we dont earn a commission from it. Its all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

Weve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

Well provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readersincluding objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

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Best Utility Knife Reviews 2021 - Pro Tool Reviews

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New Jersey, United States,- Building Finishing Contractors Market research report offers in-depth research and analysis of the key aspects of the Building Finishing Contractors industry. The report offers a holistic market analysis that enables companies to make decisions based on changing market trends. It includes a market overview that provides a basic understanding of the market. This market is divided into different segments, e.g. B. Type, applications, end-users, and sales channels. Additionally, the report includes competitive analysis and a company profile of the key market players. This provides a deeper understanding of the competitive landscape and its future scenarios, the crucial dynamics, and the most important segments of the Building Finishing Contractors market. Additionally, the report includes regional analysis and market dynamics. For example, the report provides a detailed analysis of the factors responsible for the growth of the market as well as the factors that may hinder the growth of the market.

The report includes CAGR, market share, revenue, gross margin, value, volume, and other key market figures that give an accurate picture of the growth of the Building Finishing Contractors market.

Competitive analysis:

The Building Finishing Contractors market report covers the profile of the major market players and includes a detailed analysis of the companies. It provides a business overview of the companies as well as detailed information on the offerings of the company and the industries served. In addition, it features the latest business development in terms of launches, mergers and acquisitions, and expansion. In addition, a snapshot was taken of companies in terms of geographic presence and product offerings.

The report covers the following key players in the Building Finishing Contractors Market:

APi Performance Contracting Cleveland Construction Irex Corp Of Lancaster

Segmentation of Building Finishing Contractors Market:

The Building Finishing Contractors market report has been segmented into Types, Applications, and End-users. It provides the market share of each segment participating in the Building Finishing Contractors market. Companies operating in this market have a thorough understanding of the fastest-growing segment. That way, they can identify their target customers and allocate their resources wisely. Segment analysis helps create the perfect environment for engagement, customer loyalty, and acquisition. This section will help companies operating in the Building Finishing Contractors market identify key areas of intervention while making their strategic investments.

By the product type, the market is primarily split into:

Drywall And Insulation Contractors Painting And Wall Covering Contractors Flooring Contractors Tile And Terrazzo Contractors Finish Carpentry Contractorss

By the application, this report covers the following segments:

Utilities Commercial Residential

Building Finishing Contractors Market Report Scope

Regional analysis:

The Building Finishing Contractors market report covers the analysis of various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Market trends change by region and result in changes due to their physical environment. The report, therefore, covers key regions with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of Building Finishing Contractors in these regions from 2020 to 2027. It analyzes the region with the highest market share as well as the fastest growing region of the Building Finishing Contractors market. The report by region is then broken down into analyzes at the country level. For example, North America is divided into the United States and Canada. Europe includes the UK, France, and Germany, followed by APAC, which includes countries like China, India, and Japan. Latin America is made up of countries like Mexico and Brazil, and the MEA countries included in the Building Finishing Contractors market are the GCC countries and South Africa.

Research methodology:

The research methodology used to aggregate the Building Finishing Contractors market report involves a combination of primary and secondary research approaches. The research team starts desk research from various sources to collect data on the Building Finishing Contractors market. The report combined its data from reliable secondary sources such as company annual reports, industry publications, news, government websites and more. In addition, the primary research includes interviews to get first-hand market intelligence. Our analysts interviewed several C-level executives, decision-makers, board members, key opinion leaders, industry veterans and other stakeholders in the Building Finishing Contractors market. All of the data is then combined and presented in a report to enable a deep understanding and analysis of the Building Finishing Contractors market.

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The Building Finishing Contractors market report provides a comprehensive overview of the current market and forecast till 2020-2027. It helps to identify the opportunities associated with the market in the near future. This gives our users a clear idea of ??where to use their resources. The report also includes industry dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and market opportunities that are significantly influencing the growth of the Building Finishing Contractors market. In-depth study of general market expansion that helps users make product launch and asset development decisions. The report covers recent developments and changing market trends with the aim of making the appropriate decisions.

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Building Finishing Contractors Market Outlook, Industry Demand and Supply, Key Prospects, Pricing Strategies, Forecast and Top Manufacturers Analysis ...

FORGING AHEAD Scott Dressel stands outside the Grand Theater at 121 S. Fourth St., Steubenville, and inside the annex, below, where restoration of the theaters original Wurlizter pipe organ continues. Ten years into the overall undertaking he worked to initiate and lead in the establishment of the Grand Theater Restoration Project, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by a group of local citizens, Dressel remains an optimist and visionary that the piece of local history will one day thrive as a performing arts center and downtown attraction.-- Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE Tens years in to the Grand Theater Restoration Project, Scott Dressel can still close his eyes and visualize the finished product.

He sees it with his eyes open, too, along with the reality side of returning to grandeur a piece of local history the only one of Steubenvilles five theaters still standing.

I can see it done its just getting from here to there thats so complicated, he said during an interview Tuesday on the status of the Grand, located at 121 S. Fourth St.

Were about one-fifth of the way done, he said of the undertaking to bring back to life the building constructed in 1885 and operated as a theater from 1925 until 1979.

As with everything else, the pandemic has had an adverse impact, according to Dressel. It slowed us down significantly, he said.

COVID has really messed things up as far as, for example, this year, the capital bill grants that have been providing a great deal of our funding from the state didnt happen this year, because they had to shut everything off to handle COVID, so were hoping things will get back to normal after the end of this year any way, but its a problem. It slowed everything down, not just us, obviously, Dressel said.

We were lucky enough to get a $10,000 grant from the county that will keep the utilities on for the year, he said on the brighter side of finances, referring to money nonprofits got through the CARES Act.

We got some donations this year. We have some people who support us all the time and then some other unusual ones, he said. What we really need is a $2 million or $3 million donation from somebody but until that happens, we will keep doing what we can do.

So far about $1 million has gone into the project funds from grants, fundraisers and outright donations and faithful supporters. Were about a million dollars in, not counting in-kind work of volunteers, he said, noting, we have more than a hundred thousand hours of volunteer work.

And thats all translated into progress.

We have gotten a lot done. Since weve started, aside from the roof and its maintenance, weve also done all the structural steel under the balcony that was finished as of last year, so thats done as far as any kind of repair work that has to be done, Dressel explained.

We started the ceiling as you know with the completion of the main dome. Theres still a lot more to do, but that big dome in the front up above the scaffolding is done. Obviously we cleaned it all out, Dressel continued. We put in new gas service, new electric service, temporary heat in most of the building. Some of its permanent. The main theater is temporary because once the theater is finished we have to put a quieter system in.

We are working right now on electrical in the ballroom space, which is approved. We have a permit and everything to do that, he said, Once thats done then the ceilings will go back up in both ballrooms and then the next big thing in the ballroom space is getting the elevator shaft designed and built and then the elevator in there, which is expensive, he said.

We did the front of the theater that took a few years and we actually have a little bit left to do. Were hoping to qualify for one more facade grant so were going to try to apply in the next round again and see if we can get one more and get that last storefront done.

Another facet of ongoing work at the Grand is a musical one restoration of the theaters original Wurlitzer pipe organ that was installed in 1925. The organ was returned to the theater in 2015 from the Elmer Friend home in Illinois. Friend had bought it in 1988, and his children ended up donating it back to the theater after his death.

The pipe organ, which was sold off to Elmer and Audrey Friend in Rockford, Ill., we got it back about four years ago or so, and weve been working on it on Saturdays ever since, Dressel said, pointing out efforts have halted somewhat since the pandemic.

A group of volunteers led by Joe Humpe is involved in the project, however, according to Dressel. He is the master organ builder helping us, and hes built many, many, many organs, Dressel said of Humpe. Another of his organs that we got out of a church in Maynard, Ohio, a few years ago were installing in the ballroom so well actually have two, he added.

The Wurlitzer work is nearing completion.

All of these things that hold pipes or hold sound effects all the chest and actions that theyre called they are all done so now we have to put it all together so we are recreating both rooms, the upper and lower chambers that are on the side of the theater here. This is one and that messy piece of paper has exactly been laid out, thats the shape of the floor for the other one so well cover it with plywood because the original planks are bad and then were going to set everything up on it and run all the windlines between every one. The new ones weve made out of PVC. The old ones were made out of tin, he explained.

And then were going to take it all apart and move it into the theater when the theater is closer to being done, because we dont want all that dirt to get into everything, he added. Ultimately the restored organ will be returned to its original location near the stage.

The work is being done appropriately in what they call the organ room, actually the annex of the theater, to the left of the main entrance.

Above it in the upper two floors will be offices for people running the theater some day as well as a catering kitchen where caterers can set up food, not actually cooking, but a set-up space, Dressel said. There also will be mens and womens restrooms for the ballroom space. That will be above us so this will be an addition to the lobby, like a retail lobby/small event space. It will connect through to the next storefront, which will connect through to the lobby, because next door on this side will be the elevator and the mens and womens restrooms and the stairway access to the ballroom as well, he said in explaining the layout.

Basically from here over will be one big lobby some day because youre going to need a big enough indoor space for a thousand people to wait for something to start, he said. Years ago they would wait outside. Those days are over. People dont want to wait outside any more, he said.

Volunteers have been working individually on the organ, according to Dressel.

Joe has been down a couple times. I have been coming in. We cleaned and moved a bunch of stuff around. Brian Wilson was working on the console, which is the big thing you run it at, thats almost done and incredibly complicated, he said. There are thousands of connections in here. I got the blower running. The original blower, Brian and Tom Dear put it back together, and then we got it hooked up to test it. It generates a massive amount of air. It will power the pipe organ as far as wind so were getting closer, he said.

Dressel anticipates the organ could be finished within a year. It will sit in here finished. Well cover it up, and we can open the door and do tours and give concerts and such, he said, envisioning it could be used for a daily noon concert, entertaining a lunch crowd.

We can get the ceiling done next and we have all the steel 2-by-4s or steel studs to do the walls from the front of the theater to the back of the theater. They need to be put together, Dressel said in noting other work to be done. A fire-resistant drywall will go on that and all the decorative elements will be applied to that, which are simple compared to the ceiling.

Were like part way there, but its just getting from here to there, he said.

Two big fire exits are another big deal so outside the theater where outside stairs used to be eventually will be a brick tower built there with stairs inside of it for a fire escape on each side.

Dressel sees it as important to continue with the project to fruition that its part of a bigger picture that not everyone sees as he does.

Asked what hed like readers to understand about the theater restoration, Dressel noted, Having a theater in your downtown area is a place to have events happen that will attract people that will fill up your restaurants and bars and shops, and its also an event space for unusual events.

Everywhere else where they have their theater open of course this year being the exception it really makes their downtown tick as far as volume of traffic. You want people to come from outside and spend money here. People from outside spending money here grows your economy. Every dollar spent gets spent seven more times before it leaves that place, so you want outside money to come in for the economy to get bigger and have more circulating in it, he said.

If everybody locally just spends it here, that helps, too, but if everybody keeps going to Robinson (Township, Pa.) and spends money there, that shrinks your economy so you have to change that trend, he added.

The Grands completed restoration and use can help foster the downtowns growth, according to Dressel, who noted Steubenville had five theaters at one time. Interestingly enough, the Grand was also the first of those five built and its still standing. Its still independent. It will remain that way. The others were the Capitol, Paramount, the Olympic and the Ohio.

Things are better here, according to Dressel, Theres a lot happening. If you look around, theres all kind of new stuff going on.

The Grand is complicated, were a small community so our means of making things happen are limited, Dressel said. We need the state and federal government maybe eventually (to help). We havent had any help from the federal government, but the state is what really could make a big difference so hopefully our representatives will keep pushing for the Grand so well get more funding, he added.

One of the biggest challenges we have is getting architectural work done. We really need a large architectural firm to donate it, Dressel said. We have two architects we have paid some to do various parts of it. It would be nice to get all the drawings finished once and for all. We have an as-is drawing. We need someone to help us finish that.

Thats a big ask time is money, he said.

Dressel said its fair to say hes an optimist and visionary when it comes to the Grands restoration, an undertaking he generated support for and which led to the establishment of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

I think well get there. We need to get our state reps in here again, he said. The state needs to be back in a position to do that kind of funding, and its not just us that lost funding but lots of organizations, he said, referring to the pandemics impact on nonprofits.

Theater restorations, though time-consuming and involving expense, arent necessarily unusual. Theres a theater in Marietta, the closest example, for instance, which took almost 30 years, he said, and Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

To naysayers who might say it takes too long and costs too much, he points to the reconstruction of old Fort Steuben, which took 25 years. Who knew, Dressel commented of an area now home to a visitor center, a thriving tourist attraction with the Nutcracker Village and a summer concert series in the amphitheater and other attractions.

With a concert rain date, the Grand, for example, could be the alternative site for a summer concert, Dressel offered the suggestion. The Grand Theaters anticipated use is as a performing arts center with a museum of performing arts history of Steubenville as well as other items of interest. There would be two ballrooms for events and the lobby.

Theres a variety of things you could do, he said of its use. Its really endless. Whatever people want to have going on so you dont have to drive 40 to 50 miles to see something.

Things are changing slowly, he said of the theaters steady-but-sure transformation. It is fun, he said of the ongoing effort and results.

Its been a rough year, I do get tired, but theres potential here, and we need to keep working at it, and we will.

To support the restoration, checks can be made payable to the Steubenville Historic Landmarks Foundation and mailed to the Grand Theater at 121 S. Fourth St., Steubenville OH 43952. No donation is too small. Any amount we can use, Dressel said. I have people who have given $5, $10 and people who give $500 or a $1,000. All of that makes a difference. For information, contact Dressel at scott@bayberryproperties. Com or call (740) 632-2899.

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)

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Chicago will join the rest of Illinois by advancing to the next phase of the states COVID-19 vaccination program on Monday, which will include residents age 65 or older and front-line essential workers, including teachers, the city said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Unions governing body is expected to convene Wednesday and could send a vote to members as soon as Thursday to strike or take other collective action as early as next week, several sources told the Tribune.

Heres whats happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

7 p.m.: IHSA approves plan for winter sports to begin, allows contact days for fall, spring and summer sports

Winter sports will be on their way.

By an email vote, the Illinois High School Association board approved a plan Tuesday that allows winter sports, with the exception of boys and girls basketball, to be played seven practice days after the first practice.

Badminton, boys swimming, boys and girls bowling, and girls gymnastics are all lower-risk sports.

The acclimation period was developed by the IHSAs sports medicine advisory committee.

The Illinois Department of Public Health moved Chicago and most of the suburbs Monday into Tier 2, which allows competition.

Will and Kankakee counties, however, are still in Tier 3. That means high schools like Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way West, Lockport, Lemont, Providence and Joliet Catholic will not be able to practice or compete until reaching the next level.

The IHSA also approved contact days for all fall, spring and summer sports, beginning Jan. 25.

6 p.m. (update): Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum announce plans to reopen as COVID restrictions loosen

Shedd Aquarium Tuesday became the first major cultural institution to announce reopening plans following the states determination Monday that Chicago is now in improved Tier 2 COVID mitigation status.

The Shedd news was followed by the Field Museum revealing its plans to reopen even sooner, by the end of this week.

The lakefront aquarium, which in November closed down for a second time due to the pandemic, said it will allow the public back in on Saturday, Jan. 30. Members will be allowed in first, Jan. 27-29, with additional members-only hours available on the 31st.

Its Museum Campus neighbor the Field said it will open to members Thursday and Friday and then to the general public on Saturday, with next Monday and Thursday being free to Illinois residents.

Other museums are expected to follow suit. The areas two major zoos, Brookfield and Lincoln Park, are closed for the first two months of the year as a cost-saving and safety measure.

5:20 p.m.: Drive-through indoor facility opens at Lake County Fairgrounds for faster vaccinations

Conditions were good for Deputy Lake County Coroner Kiersten Reif when she received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 28 at the Lake County Health Departments drive-through site at its Waukegan offices.

But, Reif liked the circumstances much more when she received her second dose Tuesday at the departments new drive-through indoor facility at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.

It was a lot nicer, and less congested, Reif said. They were able to do a lot more at the same time.

It was a lot better this time, added Sgt. Steve Carroll of the coroners office, who also received his second dose.

The health department opened its expanded facility at the fairgrounds Tuesday utilizing the buildings garage doors to allow patients to pull into the building, receive their shot and drive out in five minutes, with a goal of doubling overall vaccination capacity.

Mark Pfister, the health departments executive director, said the fairgrounds large main building has the room to accommodate multiple lines of vehicles, and indoor lighting enables longer hours. Indoor working conditions make it easier for staff to prepare and administer the doses.

Once a person is in line, they should get their shot in five minutes, Pfister said. This is for people who are eligible and registered in our system. We can do more (now), but we must have the vaccine in our system.

5 p.m.: IRS investigating hundreds of COVID-19 scams, warns Illinois taxpayers

As the second round of pandemic relief checks go out to millions of Americans, the Internal Revenue Services criminal investigation division warned Illinois taxpayers Tuesday that it was looking into hundreds of COVID-19-related scams across the country and abroad.

Criminals will look for any opportunity to take what they are not entitled to and this is no exception, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu, of the IRS Chicago field office, in a news release.

This payment is meant to help those that are struggling to get by as a result of the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, said Cantu. Be wary of any phone calls, emails, or text messages asking for your personal information or offering a deal that seems too good to be true.

The IRS highlighted several COVID-19 scams, including fabricated text messages requiring bank account information to receive a stimulus check, fake test kits, cures and vaccines, fraudulent donation requests and calls to invest in companies supposedly developing vaccines.

The agency notes online that it does not demand payment without the chance to appeal, ask for account information over the phone or via text, threaten lawsuits, jail time or deportation for nonpayment or ask people to pay in gift cards.

The IRS Chicago field office did not have further data on the scams affecting Illinois residents specifically, a spokesperson said.

Taxpayers can report suspected scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraudsphone hotline, 1-866-720-5721 or through its online complaint form.

4:10 p.m.: Illinois school districts get $2 billion in latest COVID-19 federal relief package

Illinois public schools have been awarded $2.2 billion in COVID-19 relief funding more than four times the federal dollars the state received in the first round of pandemic aid for schools last spring, state education officials said.

The U.S. Department of Educations preliminary allocations for the second round of COVID-19 relief money for Illinois schools through the second Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund arrives as president-elect Joe Biden is pledging to reopen a majority of schools across the U.S. during his first 100 days in office.

The infusion of federal dollars will be released to school districts in the form of grants for urgent needs, officials said, including COVID-19 safety protocol, mitigating learning loss during the pandemic, closing the digital divide, and addressing the mental health needs of students, officials said.

3:50 p.m.: Illinois launches four new COVID-19 vaccination sites in Cook County

Illinois residents began getting COVID-19 shots at four new mass vaccination sites in Cook County on Tuesday as the state readies for the next phase of immunizations.

Two of the sites are in the western suburbs, the North Riverside Health Center in North Riverside and Morton East Adolescent Health Center in Cicero; and two are in the south suburbs, Robbins Health Center in Robbins and Cottage Grove Health Center Ford Heights.

The four sites are being run with support from the Illinois National Guard and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office said Tuesday.

The sites are will be open to front line health care workers until Illinois officially moves into Phase 1b of its vaccination plan on Monday. That phase includes people 65 and older and front-line essential workers including public transit and grocery store employees, as well as teachers.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is also launching partnerships with large pharmacies to set up hundreds of new sites in communities across Illinois, according to Pritzkers office.

Pritzker called the sites a pivotal first step of a plan that coordinates our 97 local health departments statewide who operate clinics already and will open up more as vaccine supply grows, in a statement on Tuesday.

Illinois National Guard members are also deploying to other parts of the state to help set up new vaccination sites and expand existing ones.

Illinois began vaccinating front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities against COVID-19 in mid-December.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle called the new vaccine sites critical in increasing our vaccination capabilities and protecting our communities from COVID-19, as we return to normalcy.

3:15 p.m.: Restaurants decry uneven playing field over owners who flout indoor dining ban

Even as a return to indoor dining in Illinois appears to be inching closer, restaurant owners particularly those who have been complying with state mandates are expressing growing resentment over what they describe as an uneven playing field.

The resentment is twofold: Restaurants that skirt or openly flout Illinois state rules and the number doing so is significant, restaurateurs claim are taking away business from compliant operations. Inconsistent or absent enforcement is enabling violators.

Indoor dining could resume as early as this week, according to Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicagos public health commissioner, who cited improved COVID-19 numbers, in predicting Tuesday that dining could be days away. Yet capacity would still be limited to 25%, giving restaurants flouting the rules an unfair advantage. In Chicago, 395 businesses, most of them restaurants and bars, have been cited for violating COVID-19 regulations since March.

No restaurateur will call out bad-faith competitors by name. Nobody wants to play police officer, and there is sympathy for those who are struggling to keep their businesses alive and their staffers employed. But there is concern that, by allowing indoor dining to customers eager to return to normal, rules-breaking restaurants may be adding to the surge in coronavirus cases, thus postponing the day when indoor dining can resume safely.

3:10 p.m.: Lightfoot calls on Chicagoans to take part in national memorial to remember COVID-19 victims on eve of Biden-Harris inauguration

Chicagos Democratic mayor is calling on Chicagoans to turn off their lights and other electronics Tuesday night, the eve of President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, for 10 minutes in remembrance of victims of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

The event, dubbed a National COVID-19 Memorial Service, is being organized by the incoming Biden administration and scheduled at 6 p.m.

The Willis Tower antenna, along with several other buildings in the downtown skyline, sit partially dark during a 10-minute citywide COVID-19 memorial service on Jan. 19, 2021, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago residents as well as businesses owners can participate by turning off their lights and electronics, step outside their home or workplace, and light a candle and offer a moment of silence for those who have died from the virus.

Following 10 minutes of reflection, everyone will turn the lights back on at 6:10 p.m. CST to symbolize moving from darkness to light, the mayors office said in a statement last week.

Among those who have said theyre participating: the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/Chicago) an association of 240 downtown buildings and Wrigley Field. The mayors office set up an email for people to participate, covidmemorial@cityofchicago.org, as well as a social media hashtag, #brightertogether.

Lightfoot is not attending the Biden inauguration, her staff said.

2:10 p.m.: American COVID-19 deaths pass 400,000, with death rate accelerating, on final full day of Trumps term

As President Donald Trump entered the final year of his term last January, the U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Not to worry, Trump insisted, his administration had the virus totally under control.

Now, in his final hours in office, after a year of presidential denials of reality and responsibility, the pandemics U.S. death toll has eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of lives is accelerating.

This is just one step on an ominous path of fatalities, said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University and one of many public health experts who contend the Trump administrations handling of the crisis led to thousands of avoidable deaths.

Everything about how its been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and were paying a heavy price, he said.

The 400,000-death toll, reported Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. Its nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimers disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined.

With more than 4,000 deaths recorded on some recent days the most since the pandemic began the toll by weeks end will probably surpass the number of Americans killed in World War II.

1:55 p.m.: Downtown Dogs closing after more than 26 years due to pandemic

Downtown Dogs, the much-loved Chicago hot dog stand that first opened in 1994, plans to close by the end of the month. According to a message from the restaurant, the pandemic has caused us to lose our lease and permanently close our doors. The restaurant also noted that it was looted twice over the past year.

While finding a hot dog in Chicago isnt exactly a difficult task, Downtown Dogs location a block from the Chicago Water Tower, meant that it was a welcome reprieve from the crush of bag-toting tourists on the Magnificent Mile. Along with fully loaded hot dogs, the shop served a number of classic Chicago dishes, including Italian beefs and Polish sausages. In fact, we last visited for a pizza puff, that misunderstood Chicago classic.

You have until Jan. 30 to place your last order.

1:25 p.m.: Evanston, Skokie move forward with COVID-19 vaccination plans as thousands of doses already administered

Evanston and Skokie health officials hope to finish their first round of COVID-19 vaccinations this week as they look toward expanding distribution to include high-risk residents.

When that will ultimately happen, though, depends on if the state provides the needed vaccine doses to finish inoculating paramedics and hospital health care workers, said Greg Olsen, public health manager for the city of Evanstons Health and Human Services Department.

Once we have the vaccine in hand, its been very smooth, Olsen said.

However, local health officials dont know in advance how much vaccine they will receive each week, which makes it difficult to estimate when, exactly, this phase will wrap up and the next phase of inoculations will begin.

12:55 p.m.: CTU delegates could set a strike vote this week as impasse looms over schools reopening

The Chicago Teachers Unions governing body is expected to convene Wednesday and could send a vote to members as soon as Thursday to strike or take other collective action as early as next week, several sources told the Tribune.

With thousands more teachers due to report to work in person for the first time on Monday and the union still at an impasse with Chicago Public Schools leaders over a reopening plan theres urgency to the need to come to an agreement to reopen schools.

CPS CEO Janice Jackson Tuesday she wants an agreement but that it must involve how schools can reopen safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, not whether they will reopen.

12:22 p.m.: Elmwood Park schools reopen for first time since closing last March

Parents and children, standing in small clusters divided by household, greeted each other from six feet apart as they waited in line outside Elmwood Elementary School for the first day of hybrid learning Tuesday morning in Elmwood Park.

Elmwood Park School District 401 students have been taking online classes since Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed all schools throughout the state last March. On Tuesday, the youngest students, pre-K through second graders, and those in bilingual classes and special education returned to school for the first time since then. The rest of the students are scheduled to return Jan. 25.

12:10 p.m.: 4,318 new and probable cases of COVID-19, 33 additional deaths reported

Illinois announced Tuesday 4,318 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, for a total of 1,076,532 statewide since the pandemic began. The state also announced 33 new deaths for a total of 18,291.

There were 71,533 tests reported and the seven-day statewide positivity rate is 6.9%.

On Monday, 13,169 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered, officials said, bringing the number administered statewide to 508,732.

12:05 p.m.: Chicago entering next phase of Illinois COVID-19 vaccine program Jan. 25, as officials predict indoor dining could resume within days

Chicago will join the rest of Illinois by advancing to the next phase of the states COVID-19 vaccination program on Monday, which will include residents age 65 or older and front-line essential workers, including teachers, the city said Tuesday.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, meanwhile, said she hopes indoor dining soon will be allowed at restaurants across Chicago after Gov. J.B. Pritzker eased other COVID-19 restrictions on the city.

Citing improved COVID-19 numbers, Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicagos public health commissioner, predicted indoor dining could be days away.

Were still a few days, could be a week, away from this but if progress continues in the right way, I think it is likely that we may be able to move all the way to the Tier 1 mitigation, which is when we are able to reopen indoor dining, Arwady said during an online question-and-answer session. Were not there yet, but I want you to know that the way the numbers are heading, I am feeling very optimistic.

Arwady also announced on Tuesday that the citys vaccination plan for phase 1b, which includes Chicagoans 65 and older and front line essential workers, will formally begin Jan. 25. Those oldest and at highest risk will be prioritized.

A team of pharmacists from Walgreens arrived at Plymouth Place Senior Living in La Grange Park Saturday morning with the coronavirus vaccine. When they left more than seven hours later, between 550 and 560 people had been vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech drug.

It is exciting for them, and their families are thrilled, said Kate Curran, Plymouth Places senior director of communications. Our staff and residents have been through months and months of challenging times.

The complex, at 315 N. La Grange Road, offers a range of living accommodations, from independent living to skilled nursing care.

We have had no communal dining for awhile, Curran said. Since COVID-19 infection rates increased in the fall, the residents have been tested for the virus twice a week.

11:45 a.m.: Small nonprofits could get up to $25,000 in latest round of state grant program

Ten small Illinois nonprofits could win grants of up to $25,000 in the latest cycle of an Illinois grant program, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced Tuesday.

We are excited to kick off the new year with up to $250,000 available to small nonprofits, Frerichs said in a news release. We all are experiencing the impact of the pandemic and this funding will help valuable organizations continue their mission to feed, house, and employ those in need.

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Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Heres what happened Jan. 19 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area - Chicago Tribune

Eeek!

Whats wrong? my husband asks coming from two rooms away and finding me in the dining room, where I had locked my eyes on the ceiling.

A huge tarantula is hanging over our table!

He rolls his eyes.

I am well aware you want new light fixtures, he drones, then goes back to his laptop.

And one over here! I point to the entryway, where a similar oversized, oil-rubbed bronze, Mediterranean-style fixture dangled from a heavy metal chain like something out of a medieval torture chamber. How have we lived with these?

Has anyone ever told you that you are prone to hyperbole?

I did not have time to look that up. We must act, I say.

To which he says nothing, which I take to mean go ahead.

In fairness to me, I had been saying for months, as we stayed at home staring at (and climbing) the walls, that next up on the home project hit parade was replacing the outdated light fixtures that came with (and weighed down) the house.

I do not blame the prior owners, who built the home in 2003. Back then, heavy, oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures were what you did. I built a home that same year in Colorado, and picked out almost the same light fixtures.

That was then.

The builder-owners of this house did what many builders do. They put in a default lighting package, a matching set of fixtures for the dining room, entryway, kitchen, hallways and bathrooms. So contrived you can imagine them all holding hands and singing Id Like to Teach the World to Sing(In Perfect Harmony) in smarmy unison.

However, the problem hanging over my head was this: Whenever I thought about updating them, I hit a snag, which I call the stocking problem. Replace one fixture, say the dining room chandelier, and that change trips a snag, which starts a run and soon the whole house is involved. You have to change the light in the entryway, then in the kitchen, then down the hall, and, and . and you freeze.

Because I had been around this mental racetrack a few times, and making any more than three design decisions at once causes my brain to jam, I called interior designer Tina Crossley. What I like about working with Crossley, who has helped me update my home dcor before, is she works with what you have. Not all designers are so benevolent.

Oil-rubbed bronze was popular for a long time, she says, looking around at the black spiders on my ceiling. It still works in Mediterranean- or Venetian-style homes, but not in your light, bright colonial.

So these need to go? I ask, which was all the affirmation I needed.

She nods.

Two weeks later, she comes back with pictures of fixture candidates. The options she proposes are transitional, a bridge between traditional and modern that fits my dcor. The candidates have cleaner lines and a lighter feel, and fit my homes architecture. The change cant happen soon enough.

Changing light fixtures is one of the simpler home improvements you can make to get a big difference, says Crossley, who offers these tips for those looking to pull the plug on dated or boring fixtures:

Avoid the matched set. Like a matching bedroom suite of furniture, light fixtures that come as a package are safe and do the job, but dont look custom. Fixtures shouldnt all match, but they should get along, especially if you can see them from one vantage point. Aim for fixtures that relate to each other in style and feel.

Dont fixate on finishes. People get stuck when they feel they need to match finishes. You can mix metals so long as the tones work together. For instance, we chose champagne gold fixtures for the dining room and entry, and polished nickel for the master bath.

Where to start. In most homes, the fixture in the dining room or the foyer makes the biggest statement. Find one you love that fits your homes dcor and architecture, and build from there. Do the public areas first the dining room, entryway and kitchen then phase in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Beware of novelty. While you want to avoid the matched package, dont get fixtures that are too unique. An overly artistic fixture might satisfy your immediate need for change but might fall out of vogue faster, and could hurt your homes resale value.

Fit the furniture. Consider what the fixture will hang over and make sure the styles work together. While its fine and often desirable to pair a modern fixture with an old, distressed table, be intentional.

Keep up. Homeowners today want fixtures that are airy and light in color and weight, Crossley says, as opposed to dark and heavy. Although dark tones are out, the exception is black, which is popular today in white and gray interiors, where they add welcome contrast.

Matching your architecture is always in style. Though styles come and go, light fixtures that fit your homes architecture have staying power. A fancy, traditional crystal chandelier will always be at home in a French chateau. Iron scones will always fit in a rustic farmhouse, and an antler fixture will forever feel right in a Wyoming hunting lodge.

Join me next week for more enlightening light fixture tips.

Marni Jameson is the author of five home and lifestyle books, including Downsizing the Family Home What to Save, What to Let Go and Downsizing the Blended Home When Two Households Become One. You may reach her at marnijameson.com.

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When its time to pull the plug on dated light fixtures - Marin Independent Journal

This is a Tale of Two Snots. Think Big Snot and Little Snot, but I will call them droplets and aerosols.

Years ago, I saw an evening outdoor production at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland, Ore. Each time the king projected his powerful voice, he spewed out droplets of spit and mucus which were perfectly lit up by the stage lights. Gravity would immediately take over, and the droplets, after their explosive sendoff, would quickly drop downward toward the crowd below and out of the lights. I recall this quite clearly because I was in the second row.

What I didn't know at the time is that most droplets go down within about six feet from the speaker (although a professional stage actor probably often exceeds the six feet); and 90 percent of what we spray out are not droplets, but are aerosols, very tiny particles that don't immediately respond to gravity but instead float and drift with the air currents.

Recently Dean Mark Williams and the UAMS College of Public Health, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield sponsored a conference: Proper Ventilation During Covid (tinyurl.com/uamsvent).

The first two hours are very practical presentations by two experts, Luke Leung and Elliott Gall, on how to make a school, small business, or home safer from covid by improving the quality of indoor air. Since mid-March, which for most of us was the beginning of our personal efforts to avoid infection, we have benefited from outdoor time in spring, summer, and a nice fall.

Outdoor air is safer air. In general, a pollutant indoors is 1,000 times more likely to be inhaled than outdoors. Pollutants are much more quickly diluted outdoors. In the early days of covid, a foreign study did an analysis of approximately 7,500 cases; 7,322 of them were acquired indoors, but only two outdoors. Other summertime factors increase the decay of the virus: more sunshine, higher temperatures, and more humidity.

This is where the aerosols, the Little Snot, become important. Indoors we still get protection from masks and physical distancing, but we put ourselves at increased risk if we ignore the possibility that someone with covid left small aerosolized virus/mucus particles drifting in the air.

Here are some topics to discuss with a heat/air expert.

Winter air is dryer. A relative humidity indoors of 40 to 60 percent can be helpful in clearing inhaled virus from lungs. Obviously condensation problems should be avoided.

If possible, some outside air coming through the heat and air system is very important. In a school or business, proper adjustment of the heat and air system is essential.

Filtration with a MERV 13 filter or above can be very helpful in eliminating the aerosol particles, but this topic needs to be discussed with a heat/air expert knowledgeable about your system.

Small portable air cleaner units with HEPA filters may be an alternative. I recently spent some time in a big dental chair in a small room, reassured by a portable filter on the floor beside me.

In a school or business, pay attention to the direction of the flow of the indoor air. Fans can be very helpful if they are moving fresh clean air into an occupied area. They are not so helpful if they are recirculating air loaded with aerosolized virus/mucus particles from one customer to another.

Utilizing the heat and air system fan helps particularly if it takes air through a MERV 13 filter. And if air is continuously moving through a filter, and outside air is coming inside in appropriate proportions, it doesn't take long for a room's air to be exchanged.

Those are my amateurish attempts to summarize some major points from the webinar. But I strongly recommend going to the UAMS College of Public Health website and spending an hour learning about the aerosolized particles of mucus, the Little Snot, that can deliver floating covid virus to you, your customers, or your students. The hour or two won't make you an expert, but it will help you formulate the questions to ask.

Recently four Denver Broncos quarterbacks spent time together going over game films. When one of them tested positive for covid, all four were quarantined and missed the next game. My first thought was: What kind of air ventilation was in that room?

--v--

Vic Snyder is the corporate medical director for external affairs at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.

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OPINION | VIC SNYDER: In the air - Arkansas Online

The Patriots are in a tough spot. They were among the league's worst teams when it came to run defense. They ranked 29th in the NFL in expected points added allowed per rush, per Ben Baldwin of The Athletic. They were last in football in rush DVOA, according to Football Outsiders.

Can only go up from there, right? Well, there's an issue. The Patriots are about to watch their two best interior defensive linemen hit free agency.

Lawrence Guy is a member of the latest All-Decade Team in New England and their best defensive lineman over the course of the last four seasons since he arrived via free agency from Baltimore. He can play just about any spot up front between the tackles, and Bill Belichick often aligns him across from an opposing offense's top lineman, gumming up the works for whatever it is that particular opponent wants to do in the running game. He's free to sign anywhere in March.

Adam Butler, meanwhile, is less a run-stuffer than he is a pass-rusher. But he's been a critical piece to the puzzle since the departure of Trey Flowers in the 2019 offseason. Where Flowers once was the team's top interior rusher in obvious passing situations, Butler slid in. He was in on four sacks this season -- eight last season -- and was third on the team with 27 total pressures. He's also free to sign anywhere in March.

Of course, there's a chance that Guy and Butler are back. Guy, in particular, is a favorite of the coaching staff and has been a captain. From a public perception standpoint, he's among the most underrated players the team has had over the course of the last several years.

But what if they aren't? Who's around to help fix what ails this defensive front? It ain't a long list ...

BYRON COWART

The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder is a nice fit as a 3-4 end in Belichick's scheme. One of the most highly-recruited high school players in the country years ago, he landed at Auburn and later transferred to Maryland. He was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 but took the equivalent of a professional "redshirt" year, seeing 43 snaps as a rookie.

Last year he started all 14 games in which he appeared, playing over 400 snaps and seeing a regular role alongside Guy on the interior in running situations. He's a favorite to land back in that same role in 2021, but the Patriots need more from him. He graded out as the No. 99 interior defensive lineman in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

BEAU ALLEN

Remember him? He was set to take over for Danny Shelton as the team's top nose tackle, as his size (6-foot-2, 333 pounds) separates him from 3-4 ends like Cowart and Guy. We just never saw him. He was spotted during one day of training camp -- a simulated game inside Gillette Stadium that he watched -- but never played in front of members of the media. He remains under contract, and if healthy he could be a starter for a defense that could desperately use a big body.

The Patriots are one of the few teams in the league that values a true nose tackle, and that spot is still up for grabs in Foxboro. Allen is on track to earn $2.2 million in base salary in the fall, but if released he'd save the Patriots almost $3 million against the cap. Another nose tackle option could be Carl Davis, who played 51 snaps in three games for the Patriots this year, but he's scheduled to be a free agent in March.

AKEEM SPENCE

Best known for his role in helping the Patriots make a fourth-down goal-line stand at the end of the first half against the Cardinals last season, Spence could be back in the mix for the Patriots next season. The 6-foot-1, 300-pounder is 28 and would be an undersized reserve option for Belichick's front.

BILL MURRAY

Signed as an undrafted rookie out of William & Mary, Murray spent the 2020 season on the Patriots practice squad and recently signed a future contract to remain with the team through the offseason.

NICK THURMAN

With good size (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) to play up front as a 3-4 end, Thurman is headed into his third season in New England. He spent all of 2019 on the practice squad and last season played in seven games, starting one. Like Murray, he signed a future contract to be with the Patriots when camps open up.

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Perry: Pats' defensive front can't afford to lose Lawrence Guy this offseason - NBC Sports Boston